Angel Di Maria takes some pebbles off his shoes

“I had two relapses in one month: it was not easy mentally.”

He missed many games due to injury, especially those in the run-up to the World Cup in Qatar, a competition in which, especially in the decisive final against France, he was the absolute star. He was also criticized by the same Juventus titans, who had accused him of ‘saving himself’ for the rainbow kermesse, but the reality of the facts appears incontrovertible: when Angel Di Maria is healthy, when he is well, he makes a difference. And how he does.

Already decisive in the last victorious away match on Ligurian soil against Spezia, El Fideo dropped his very personal trio against Nantes, in the Europa League, dragging Juve to the round of 16 of the competition. The Argentine, intercepted by Sky in the post-match, also spoke about his darkest period, the one in which he did not tread the pitch due to constant physical discomfort.

“I’m really happy for being able to materialize the work of the team, we wanted to get through the round. We played a very good game,” the former Real Madrid man began. “I managed to raise the level, my qualities are there and I tried to help the team. I’m happy with the three goals, the game and the qualification. The injuries? Criticism also came. I knew I could give more. It took me some time to regain my form, but I had two relapses in a month: it was not easy mentally. But now I am happy to be here,” concluded the South American.